TNAG-2089-FCO40-2974-Diplomatic-representation-of-third-countries-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 189

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FM CARACAS

TO DESKBY 20010OZ HONG KONG

TELNO 02

OF 192OOOZ MARCH 90

INFO PRIORITY FCO

INFO ROUTINE PEKING

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HKB 400/1

RECEDED

RY

? 4 MAR 1990

CER

INDEX

PA

Actio

112

100611 MDLIAN 7563

MY TELNO 80 TO FCO: ACTING CONSUL-GENERAL OF VENEZUELA IN HONG KONG

1. FURTHER REMARKS MADE TO THE PRESS OVER THE WEEKEND BY YANES PASARELLA, DIRECTOR OF THE TECHNICAL AND JUDICIAL POLICE (PTJ) MAY BE HELPFUL

2. PASARELLA IS QUOTED IN THE PRESS OF 18 MARCH AS SAYING JIMINEZ, A MEMBER OF THE VENEZUELAN TEAM SENT TO HONG KONG, HAD RETURNED TO CARACAS WITH VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION. AS A RESULT OF WHAT HAD BEEN OBTAINED THROUGH THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES, AND OF THE TEAM'S OWN INVESTIGATION IN THE CONSULATE ITSELF, THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A SERIES OF IRREGULARITIES IN THE HANDLING OF VENEZUELAN VISAS. OTHER UNOFFICIAL SOURCES ARE QUOTED AS SAYING THAT THE CONSUL AND THE DIEX (IMMIGRATION) DIRECTOR ARE MUCH IMPLICATED, AND THAT THE JUDGE HAS ENOUGH DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE TO PUT THEM ON

TRIAL. ONE HEADLINE SAYS 'CONSUL IN HONG KONG UP TO HIS NECK IN

THE TRAFFIC IN CHINESE.'

3. YANEZ PASARELLA IS FURTHER REPORTED AS SAYING THAT THE VENEZUELAN

TEAM HAD TO RETURN WITHOUT RAMIREZ: THE BRITISH POLICE AUTHORITIES DID NOT WISH TO HAND HIM OVER SINCE THEIR TASK WAS NOT YET OVER. THE REPORT ADDS THAT CONSULS DO NOT ENJOY DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY: THAT IS ONLY FOR AMBASSADORS. PASARELLA IS QUOTED IN ANOTHER REPORT AS SAYING THAT RAMIREZ WOULD PROBABLY BE BROUGHT BACK TO VENEZUELA

AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

FITZHERBERT

YYYY

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